Voice Pairing of Display Devices on a Shared Local Network

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing systems fail to efficiently pair speech-enabled devices with display devices for enhanced visual feedback during voice interactions, often requiring complex user input and lacking security in device pairing.

Innovation Solution

A method for pairing a speech-enabled device with a display device using voice commands, where the system determines the type and local network proximity of potential display devices, displaying pairing prompts on eligible devices for user confirmation, and securely associating them based on shared network connectivity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the system sends pairing requests to multiple display devices, then the probability of finding the correct device increases, but the complexity of the pairing process increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepairing accuracyVSAvoidpairing process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements feedback by having each display device display a visual indication (such as a code or identifier) that the speech-enabled device can read and verify. This feedback loop allows the speech-enabled device to confirm it is pairing with the correct display device, ensuring pairing accuracy while maintaining a simple user-facing process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary verification mechanism where visual indications are displayed on candidate devices as mediators. The speech-enabled device reads these visual indications to verify identity, acting as an intermediary confirmation step that ensures accurate pairing without requiring complex user intervention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the system requires user confirmation for pairing, then pairing security improves, but user input complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepairing securityVSAvoiduser input complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces manual user confirmation (such as typing passwords or pressing physical buttons) with voice-based confirmation. The user simply speaks a confirmation phrase that the speech-enabled device processes, substituting mechanical input methods with acoustic input while maintaining security through voice verification.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Reliability

If the system checks local network connectivity for all display devices, then pairing accuracy improves, but processing time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepairing accuracyVSAvoidpairing time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by having display devices continuously maintain network connectivity and be pre-ready to receive pairing requests. The visual indications are displayed in advance, allowing the speech-enabled device to quickly verify and pair without performing time-consuming connectivity checks at the moment of pairing, thus reducing perceived pairing time while ensuring accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3958111B1Pairing a voice-enabled device with a display device
Publication Date: 2025.12.03 GOOGLE LLC
  • EP3958111B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3958111B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3958111B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for pairing a speech-enabled device with a display device. A determination may be made to pair a speech-enabled device with a display device of a particular type. A set of display devices that are associated with the speech-enabled device may be identified in response to determining to pair the speech-enabled device with the display device of the particular type. An instruction may be provided to each of the display devices. The instruction may cause the display device to determine (i) whether the display device is of the particular type and (ii) whether the display device and the speech-enabled device both share a local area network and display on the display device an indication regarding pairing with the speech-enabled device.